The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

CIA agent Jordan Sandor, who has been in all the world's trouble spots and has the scars to show for it, has a personal stake in eliminating the Venezuelan terrorist mastermind known as Adina.

A close friend of Sandor's was killed during an operation to uncover Adina's latest deadly plot. Now, Sandor will stop at nothing short of returning the favor. The third in a series, this book opens with Sandor flying into the Venezuelan jungle in a one-man glider, in violation of explicit orders not to take matters into his own hands. He makes quick work of Adina's security force, gains access to the terrorist's compound and erases a few more thugs. But after discovering Adina is manufacturing anthrax, he can't proceed with his plans to kill him until he determines what the terrorist is planning to do with the deadly powder. The trail leads to Egypt, Russia and New York, among other places. Sandor's life is at risk, as are the lives of the colleagues and foreign friends he entices to help out on the mission. At greater risk is New York, where Adina plans on unleashing a devastating attack culminating in the distribution of the anthrax. An attorney, Stephens lays out his story in orderly fashion, with one action scene neatly following another. The pace of the book is Bourne-like. But Sandor is one-dimensional. If he's haunted by anything in his past, he keeps it to himself. Ultimately, the suspense is clinical. The tale maintains our interest without stirring our imaginations.

As skillfully rendered as the book is, readers will not necessarily look forward to the next installment in the series.

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